Hapag-Lloyd

One of the oldest passenger shipping companies in the world, Hapag-Lloyd remains a top supplier of luxury cruises to the German market. Based in Hamburg, Hapag-Lloyd operates a fleet of four ships, and sails to a wide variety of destinations, including Europe, North, South and Latin America and Asia. Itineraries on a Hapag-Lloyd cruise include the Amazon, the Indian Ocean, the Arctic and Antarctica. Guests on board a Hapag-Lloyd cruise tend to be upscale, sophisticated and more conservative than most, with the company attracting plenty of repeat business. 

 

The company’s' flagship is Europa, a 28,000 ton vessel with capacity for 400 passengers. She boasts a high level of service and a sophisticated atmosphere, with a vast amount of personal space per passenger - all accommodation in the form of suites. Facilities on board include a golf simulator, spa, jewellers and ballroom (hosting international star performances), with special touches such as personal e-mail addresses for each guest. Other ships in the Hapag-Lloyd fleet include the smaller Columbus, weighing in at 15,000 tons but carrying the same amount of passengers as the Europa, with her size enabling her to navigate more inaccessible ports and waterway. The Bremen and Hanseatic are known for adventure cruises, and offer polar expeditions and trips to remote exotic regions, whilst giving travellers an informative and intimate cruise experience aboard a luxury vessel. 

 

Owned by the TUI group in Hanover, the company was formed in 1970 after two established German companies - Hapag and North German Lloyd, both dating back to the late 1800's - merged to form Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. TUI AG took them over in 1998, and the company became a fully owned subsidiary in 2002. Attracting a predominantly German clientele, Hapag-Lloyd is keen to expand into international markets and now offers bilingual cruises, as well as an English-language website and brochure.